Four of the top six ranked BC AAAA boys basketball teams are in Kelowna for the weekend. They're joined by some of the best from the prairies. They're here to compete in one of the most prestigious annual sporting events in the province.
It tips off today. We spoke with Owls Head Coach Harry Parmar and tournament organizer Dave Reynolds.
"We like to say we play 40 minutes of hell," said Owls Head Coach, Harry Parmar. What his team lacks in height, they make up with speed and tenacious defence. "Pressure, pressure, pressure, defence, defence, defence," is how Parmar puts it. "Defence wins championships, period."
Parmar's team has no giants to play under the basket while some of the other teams will. But that doesn't phase him. "You have what you have. They're going to shoot two's, we're going to shoot three's. We'll see what happens at the end."
Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow
The Owls have clawed their way to the number three spot in the provincial rankings, and with the noise and emotion of a gym full of crazy owl fans, they have a good shot at winning their own tournament this year.
Photo Credit: NowMedia
But there are some great teams standing in their way.
"Once again we've lined-up a really, really high-quality basketball tournament," said tournament director Dave Reynolds. Organizers track the top schools a year or two in advance to make sure the top teams book a spot here. "Anyone who shows up to the gym this year will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the basketball."
Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow
The gymnasium at this event promises to be packed with noisy fans making a big racket at the Western Canada Tournament which gets underway early this afternoon. The atmosphere tends to border on pandemonium when the Owl's take to the court. They take on Winnipeg's Sturgeon Heights Collegiate tonight at 7:30 pm.
The girl's side of the tournament promises to be exciting as well.
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There are six teams competing this year. Local basketball fans are anxiously awaiting a cross-town clash between the host Owls and the OKM Huskies on Saturday afternoon at 3:30.
Photo Contributed
